authorize an increase in the debt ceiling so we can pay our bills. that is the right way to do it. i think that is what will eventually happen. i do not think that going off in the other direction would really be helpful. >> hello chairman bernanke. i am a second year mpp. second question from the audience, does the debt ceiling still have a practical are busy and could it be in limited without much consequence? >> no, it does not really have -- it has symbolic value, i guess area. no other country, i believe, have this particular institution. just so everybody understands what it is, the congress appropriate $100, tells the government to spend $100 on whatever. then it raises $80 in revenue through its tax code. the arithmetic care -- you have got to borrow $20. no, the congress has to give a third rule which says that 100 - 80 equals 20. if the congress is approving spending and taxing, and they are not equal, then logically, there has to be something to make up the difference. that is borrowing. i am not saying that visits and deaths are a good thing thing. not at all. the way t